More trains, faster trains and a first arrival in London more than two hours earlier than ever before ... that's the plan outlined by Virgin Trains for the West Coast Main Line between Glasgow and London, when its new Virgin High Frequency timetable starts in January 2009.

A measure of the spectacular improvement is that the third train of the day from Glasgow is expected to be in London Euston a quarter of an hour earlier than today's first arrival. And, incredibly, the plan makes it possible to spend more than 10 hours in London and still get there and back by train from Glasgow on the same day!

The earliest train at 09.08 into Euston is to be the 04.30 from Glasgow Central. Currently the first arrival at 11.26 leaves Glasgow at 05.55. In 2009, the second from Glasgow at 05.40 is expected to be in London at 10.10 with the third at 06.30 from Glasgow due in Euston at 11.10.

Four additional Virgin Pendolino trains in each direction on weekdays are to mean a much more attractive spread of departures throughout the day. The last from Glasgow at 18.40 is to be an hour later than now. Glasgow departures from Euston are to start almost an hour earlier at 05.50 with the last at 19.30 - 82 minutes later than now - into Glasgow by midnight.

The planned typical journey time for the 401 miles of around four hours and 30 minutes compares with today's average of five hours. The fastest of the day - the 16.30 from London Euston - is expected to slice a quarter of an hour from today's best to reach Glasgow in around four hours and 10 minutes at an average of just over 96mph. That is to be the first of no less than five evening peak departures to Glasgow in the space of just two hours.

Virgin expects to provide 13 trains a day in each direction on weekdays between Glasgow Central and London Euston, delivering more than 1,700 additional seats every weekday. More capacity is also being planned for weekends.

Virgin Trains Business Development Director Tim Shoveller said: "This is great news for Glasgow and will allow the train to really challenge the plane. The train also provides a city centre to city centre travel experience without the wasted time of airport transfers and check-in."